Name of Object:

Mosaic of Virgil

Location:

Le Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia

Holding Institution:

Musée National du Bardo

 About Higher Institute for the Study of Contemporary History of Tunisia, University of Manouba, Le Bardo, Tunis

Date of Object:

19th century

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Paper

Description:

This mosaic shows Virgil listening to Clio and Melpomene. It was discovered in Sousse (ancient Hadrumetum) in 1896 and is one of the gems of the Musée du Bardo. Dressed in a splendid white toga decorated with gold embroidery, this mosaic is one of the most remarkable portraits of the famous Roman poet. He is surrounded by the muses Clio and Melpomene and holds a roll of parchment on his knee, on which the eighth verse of the Aeneid is written. The mosaic is the oldest representations of Virgil known today.

Citation of this web page:

Saloua Khadhar Zangar "Mosaic of Virgil " in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;tn;91;en

Prepared by: Saloua Khadhar Zangar
Translation by: Flaminia Baldwin

MWNF Working Number: TN 094